Bone screw for positive locking but flexible engagement to a bone

ABSTRACT

A bone screw having a head portion and an adjoining shaft portion is described. The shaft portion has a front, a mid, and a neck section, where at least two of the sections having complementary features and/or attributes to facilitate positive-locking, but flexible engagement of the bone screw to a bone.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate, but are not limited, to a bone screw with features and/or attributes to provide positive-locking but flexible engagement to a bone.

BACKGROUND

Bone screws have typically been used to directly compress osteosynthesis plates onto the bone in order to align and stabilize a bone fracture. In this utilization, bone screws are not fixed rigidly to the bone plate, and the resulting frictional force between the plate and the bone is solely responsible for the stability of the osteosynthesis construct. Loosening of the screws in the bone or a resorption of the bone can thus easily lead to a loss of stability.

To avoid such loosening, and for the purpose of improving vascularity in a manner that minimizes damage to the bone surface, means for rigid locking of a bone screws in a bone plate and elevated fixation of a bone plate over the.bone surface have been introduced. For example, in one prior art implementation, a positive-locking system between the screw and plate is effectuated by means of a bone plate with conical plate holes. The conical plate holes provide a rigid connection between the plate and the fixation screws, even after the screw-bone interface has loosened. In another prior art implementation, a positive-locking system is effectuated by fitting screw holes in the plate with inside threads. These threaded holes accept bone screws fitted with a second threaded portion which is widened compared to the conventional threaded screw shank segment, to facilitate engagement with the inside thread of the plate hole. These prior art positive-locking screws are designed to be threaded into the first bone surface underlying the plate, or into both the first and second bone surface of a quasi-cylindrical bone cross-section underlying the plate.

While these positive-locking osteosynthesis constructs provide superior stability, their stiffness can pose increased stress to the screw-bone interface. This has introduced failure modes, in which the bone resorbs or fractures adjacent to the outermost screw in the plate, since this screw absorbs the majority of the stress as the load is transferred from the bone to the plate.

Furthermore, the stiffness of the fixation construct suppresses small motion at the fracture site, which otherwise can be beneficial for fracture healing by inducing a fracture callus. Less stiff external fixators similarly impose positive-locking between bone pins and an external fixation bar. However, flexion of the considerably long fixation pins allows for controlled motion at the fracture site that is of sufficient magnitude to induce fracture healing by callus formation. While positive-locking plate-screw constructs employ a similar fixation principle as an external fixator, the close proximity of the plate to the bone surface prohibits elastic flexion of the screw segment between the plate and the bone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side-view of a bone screw, in accordance with one aspect and some embodiments of the invention, in association with a transverse cross-section of a tubular bone segment and a bone plate;

FIG. 2 shows a side-view of the bone screw, in accordance with other embodiments;

FIG. 3 shows a method for attaching a bone screw to a bone, using an embodiment of the bone screw of FIGS. 1-2, in accordance with another aspect and other embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a plate hole in accordance with other embodiments, and another aspect of the present invention, suitable for use to practice the method of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a bone screw, an osteosynthesis construct, and associated methods for using the bone screw and/or the osteosynthesis construct.

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternate embodiments may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternate embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is bone screw 1 in accordance with various embodiments and one aspect of the present invention. Additionally, bone screw 1 is illustrated with a cross section view of tubular bone 3 and bone plate 2. As illustrated, for the embodiments, bone screw 1 includes a head portion 4 and an adjoining shaft portion having a front section 7, a mid section 6, and a neck section 5. As will be described in more detail below, in various embodiments, at least two of sections 5-7 are endowed with complementary features and/or attributes, such that bone screw 1 may be positively-locked, but flexibly engaged to a bone. Additionally, bone screw 1 may be employed in conjunction with bone plate 2 to form an osteosynthesis construct. Further, potential advantages that may be obtained from adapting, and using bone screw 1 will also be described below.

For the embodiments, bone screw 1 is a rotationally symmetrical unitary piece having a central axis, depicted by the dotted line running from head portion 4 through the neck, mid and front sections 5-7 of the shaft portion. In various embodiments, bone screw 1 is made of a biocompatible material, e.g. stainless steel or titanium.

For the illustrated embodiments, front section 7 has a core diameter of dl, and is threaded for secure fixation of bone screw 1 in the far bone surface, termed far cortex 8. The length of threaded front section 7 is sufficient to span or exceed the thickness of far cortex 8.

Further, for the illustrated embodiments, threaded front section 7 may incorporate a self-tapping feature 9, which allows for insertion of bone screw 1 without the need for tapping of a screw thread. Additionally, for the illustrated embodiments, threaded front section 7 may also incorporate a self-drilling feature 10, which allows for screw insertion without the need for pre-drilling a hole in the cortex. Still further, for the illustrated embodiments, threaded front section 7 may also incorporate a second self-drilling feature 11 located toward mid section 6, which allows for screw removal (withdrawal) to penetrate newly formed bone at the perimeter of the screw hole (cavity) 15 in the near cortex 12.

Still referring to FIG. 1, mid section 6 of the shaft portion has a diameter d2. The diameter d2 may be constant, or may alter towards the neck section 5 in a manner to induce essentially evenly distributed bending and strain along mid section 6 as a load perpendicular to the central axis of bone screw 1 is applied to head portion 4 of bone screw 1. The diameter d2 may be as large as the core diameter of the threaded front section, or may be as small as 50% of the core diameter of the threaded front section 7. The length of mid section 6 extends through a substantial portion of the distance between the near and far cortex.

The geometry of mid section 6 effectively determines the stiffness for the connection between bone 3 and bone plate 2. In various embodiments, the geometry is selected such that mid section 6 has a bending ability to accommodate flexion along the central axis of bone screw 1, to allow for controlled relative motion between bone 3 and bone plate 2. In various embodiments, the bending ability is sufficient to accommodate excessive loading of the osteosynthesis construct. In such event, mid section 6 provides for a controlled failure mechanism to delay or prevent more detrimental failure modes, such as plate bending or bone fracture. Further, this elasticity may also improve the ability of head portion 4 to engage bone plate 2, especially for embodiments where engagement involves engaging threads 13 of head portion 4 with threaded through hole 14 of bone plate hole 2, and the “screw holes” in the bone and threaded through hole 14 of bone plate 2 are not precisely concentric.

The exact geometric attributes of mid section 6 is application dependent, that is, it may vary from one application to another. Further, for the illustrated embodiments, mid section 6 is illustrated as being unthreaded. In alternate embodiments, mid section 6 may be threaded instead.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, neck section 5 has a core diameter of d4 and spans the width of near cortex 12 without being rigidly fixed in near cortex 12, with near cortex 14 being the bone surface underlying bone plate 2. The diameter d4 may be as large as the core diameter of threaded front section 7, and may be as small as 50% of the core diameter of threaded front section 7. The diameter d4 is smaller than the diameter d5 of screw hole 15 in the near cortex. The difference between d4 and d5 determines the amount of flexion the screw shaft will accommodate before neck section 5 contacts screw hole 15 in near cortex 12.

The resulting axial and translational degree of freedom between screw neck 5 and screw hole 15 in the near cortex plays a significant role in realizing the benefits of far cortex fixation, including reduction of construct stiffness and reduction of stress concentrations at the screw-bone interface. Contact of the screw shaft with near cortex 12 due to increased loading of the osteosynthesis construct may provide additional support, and may dynamically increase construct stiffness.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, wherein various alternate embodiments of bone screw 1 are illustrated. For these alternate embodiments, instead of the reduced neck diameter design shown in FIG. 1, alternative means to achieve the desired degree of freedom between the neck section 5 and near cortex 12 are employed. For the embodiments, mid section 6 is provided with a short, elevated cutting flute 16 of diameter d3. The diameter is at least as big as the outer diameter of threaded front section 7, and may be up to twice as big as the outer diameter of threaded front section 7. Thus, during screw insertion, cutting flute 16 will further expand the diameter of screw hole 15 in near cortex 12, initially established with a smaller diameter for allowing front section 7 to pass through, to ensure that neck section 5 of bone screw 1 is not rigidly fixed in near cortex 12. During screw removal/withdrawal, cutting flute 16 will again expand screw hole 15 in near cortex 12 to remove newly formed bone.

Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2, for the illustrated embodiments, head portion 4 is provided with a conical shape, and is fitted with a threaded portion 13. In various embodiments, thread portion 13 is widened, compared to the threads of front section 7. This threaded head is adapted to engage with the inside thread 14 of plate hole 2 to form a positive-locking mechanism between bone screw 1 and bone plate 2.

While the foregoing descriptions have been presented with bone screw 1 and 2 illustrated in the context of a cross-section of a tubular bone. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not so limited, and may be practiced in non-tubular situation.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, in various applications, bone screw 1 is inserted through bone plate 2 into bone 3. More specifically, in various applications, bone screw 1 is inserted substantially perpendicular to the surface plane of bone plate 2, and is substantially aligned with the central axis of the plate hole of bone plate 2. During screw insertion, bone plate 2 may or may not be elevated from the bone surface 17. Screw insertion will terminate as soon as the threaded screw head section 4 is fully seated in the corresponding threaded plate hole 14. After screw insertion, bone plate 2 is positively locked to bone screw 1, and will maintain the elevation from the bone surface given during screw insertion.

In various applications/embodiments, two or more far cortex bone screws 1 of FIGS. 1-2 may be associated with bone plate 2 to form an osteosynthesis construct. The stiffness of the construct may be adjusted by the complementary geometry provided to the bone screws 1, and by the number of bone screws 1.

In other applications/embodiments, one or more far cortex bone screws 1 of FIGS. 1-2 may be combined with one or more conventional positive-locking bi-cortical or near cortex bone screws to provide for a more gradual load transfer between the bone and the bone plate.

In still other applications/embodiments, one or more far cortex bone screws 1 of FIGS. 1-2 may be combined with one or more conventional, non-locking bi-cortical screws to improve fixation strength and durability.

FIG. 3 demonstrates another implementation/application of far cortex locked screw 1 for compression of a bone fracture 17. For the implementation/application, far cortex locked screw 1 is employed to provide an offset 18 between the plate hole axis 19 and the axis 20 of the screw hole in the far cortex. To achieve compression at the fracture site 17 that is spanned by the osteosynthesis construct, bone screw 1 can be inserted in the far cortex 8 parallel to the axis of the corresponding plate hole and fracture site 17, but slightly further away from the fracture site 17 as compared to the axis of corresponding plate hole. This non-concentric screw insertion is made possible by the elastic bending ability of the screw shaft to engage the screw head into the threaded plate hole. This in turn transmits prolonged compression to fracture site 17 due to the elastic force stored in the screw shaft.

The offset between the screw hole axis 20 in far cortex 8 and the corresponding plate hole axis 19 may be in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. Screw insertion in the far cortex under such offset may be accommodate since the screw neck is smaller in diameter than the near cortex screw hole and the plate hole 21.

In various embodiments, if a larger offset is desirable, the plate hole 21 may be adapted by elongating the hole in direction of the longitudinal plate axis, and towards the end of the plate, as depicted in FIG. 4. In other words, a portion of the circumference of the substantially circular plate hole 21 may be extended in the desired direction.

Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing description, bone screw 1, osteosynthesis construct formed used bone screw 1, and methods for using them, may provide one or more of the following advantages:

-   -   Far cortex fixation provides a less stiff, more flexible         osteosynthesis construct as compared to alternative plate and         screw osteosynthesis constructs.     -   Less stiff far cortex fixation can reduce stress concentrations         in bone, which in turn can reduce the incident of bone fractures         caused by the osteosynthesis construct, especially in case of         osteoporotic bone.     -   The stiffness of the fixation construct can be adjusted by         varying the number of far cortex fixation screws that connect         the plate to a bone segment by means of a positive-locking         mechanism.     -   Provision of a controlled failure mechanism by screw shaft         bending to delay or prevent more detrimental failure modes, such         as plate bending or bone fracture.     -   The flexible screw shaft improves the ability to engage the         threaded screw head with the plate hole thread, especially when         the screw holes in the bone and plate are not precisely         concentric.     -   Provision of a means for fracture site compression by means of         non-concentric insertion of the screw in the far cortex, so that         the screw head can only engage in the plate hole thread if a         force perpendicular to the screw central axis is applied to the         screw head.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described, without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A bone screw for attaching a bone plate to a bone, said bone screw comprising: a shaft portion having a front section, a mid section, and a neck section, with at least two of said sections complementarily adapted with first features or attributes to provide for an elastic yet rigid engagement of the bone screw with the bone; and a head portion adjoining the shaft portion, adapted with a second feature to provide for a positive locking engagement of the bone screw with the bone plate.
 2. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a plurality of threads provided to the front section of the shaft to facilitate engagement of the bone screw with the bone.
 3. The bone screw of claim 2, wherein the plurality of threads are adapted to span a distance equal to or greater than a thickness of a far cortex of the bone.
 4. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise at least a selected one of a tapping feature and a cutting feature provided to the front section to facilitate insertion of the shaft portion into the bone.
 5. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a cutting feature provided to the front section to facilitate withdrawal of the shaft portion from the bone.
 6. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise features or attributes complementarily provided to at least two of the sections to provide an amount of elastic deflection to the mid section.
 7. The bone screw of claim 6, wherein the bending ability of the mid section is sufficient to provide an amount of alignment tolerance between the second feature of the head portion and a third feature of the bone plate, the second and third features being complementary.
 8. The bone screw of claim 6, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a first diameter provided to the front section of the shaft, and a second diameter in the range of 100%-50% of the first diameter, provided to the mid section.
 9. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a length provided to the mid section that spans a substantial portion of the distance between a far and a near cortex of the bone.
 10. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a first diameter provided to the front section of the shaft, and a second diameter in the range of 100%-50% of the first diameter, provided to the neck section.
 11. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the first features or attributes comprise a first diameter provided to the neck section of the shaft, and a cutting feature provided to the mid section to enable concurrent establishment at a near cortex of the bone, a cavity with a second diameter greater than the first diameter, as the bone screw is inserted to the bone, and the front section of the shaft is caused to be engaged with a far cortex of the bone.
 12. The bone screw of claim 11, wherein the cutting feature is further adapted to re-establishes the cavity, if necessary, for withdrawal of the bone screw.
 13. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the bone plate has a threaded hole, and the second feature of the head portion comprises a plurality of threads adapted to engage the threaded hole of the bone plate.
 14. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the bone plate has a substantially planar surface, and the shaft and adjoining head portions of the bone screws are adapted to allow the bone screw to be attached to the bone, through the bone plate, in a manner that is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the bone plate.
 15. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the shaft portion and the adjoining head portion form a substantially symmetrical unitary piece.
 16. An osteosynthesis construct comprising a bone plate having a first through hole; and a first bone screw, substantially as set forth in claim 1, for engaging a bone through the first through hole, to attach the bone plate to the bone.
 17. The osteosynthesis construct of claim 16, wherein the bone plate further has a second through hole, and the osteosynthesis construct further comprises a second bone screw, substantially as set forth in claim 1, for engaging the bone through the second through hole, to cooperate with the first bone screw in attaching the bone plate to the bone, the first and second bone screws having first and second complementary geometric attributes to provide or contribute to providing for a bone holding strength for the osteosynthesis construct.
 18. The osteosynthesis construct of claim 16, wherein the bone plate further has a second through hole, and the osteosynthesis construct further comprises a second screw of conventional positive-locking bi-cortical or near cortical bone screw design, for engaging the bone through the second through hole, to cooperate with the first bone screw in attaching the bone plate to the bone.
 19. The osteosynthesis construct of claim 16, wherein the bone plate further has a second through hole, and the osteosynthesis construct further comprises a second screw of conventional non-locking bi-cortical bone screw design, for engaging the bone through the second through hole, to cooperate with the first bone screw in attaching the bone plate to the bone.
 20. The osteosynthesis construct of claim 16, wherein the first through hole has a substantially circular shape, except for a portion of its circumference which is extended away from a center of the first through hole.
 21. A method for engaging a bone screw to bone, comprising establishing a cavity having a first diameter at a near cortex of the bone; inserting a front section of a shaft portion of a bone screw through a through hole of a bone plate and the cavity, and engaging the front section of the shaft portion with a far cortex of the bone, the front section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; and engaging a head portion of the bone screw with the through hole of a bone plate.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said establishing comprises initially establishing the cavity with a diameter slightly larger than the second diameter, but smaller than the first diameter to allow the front section of shaft portion to pass through, and then enlarging the cavity to the first diameter.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said establishing is integrally performed when performing said inserting.
 24. A method for compressing a fracture of a bone, comprising engaging a front section of a shaft portion of a bone screw at a location of the bone along a first axis substantially parallel to, and at a first distance away from the fracture; and engaging a head portion of the bone screw with a through hole of a bone plate along a second axis substantially parallel to, and at a second distance away from the fracture, the second distance being shorter than the first distance.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance by about 1 mm to 5 mm. 